Entertainment

The best Netflix movies of 2024, according to critics

Palmer Haasch

2024-12-31T09:27:02Z

left: glen powell in hit man, wearing glasses; center: aaron pierre in rebel ridge; right: anna kendrick in woman of the hour — Matt Lankes/Netflix; Netflix

Insider compiled 2024's top Netflix original movies based on critics' rankings from Rotten Tomatoes.
The list includes titles with an 80% or higher score and at least 20 reviews.
The top films included "Daughters," "Will & Harper," and "Hit Man."

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This year's top Netflix original movies span genre and form, ranging from action flicks to documentaries to all-ages animated films.

You might remember "Hit Man," which helped cement Glen Powell's star status on the heels of "Anyone But You" and before the summer blockbuster "Twisters." Perhaps you caught the Academy Award-nominated "Society of the Snow" after it premiered on Netflix in January. Or maybe you were tuned for Anna Kendrick's directorial debut, "Woman of the Hour."

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There are 21 Netflix films this year that boasted aggregated critic score on Rotten Tomatoes of over 80% — provided they had at least 20 reviews. Here's the full list, from lowest to highest score.

Note: All scores were current on the date of publication. In the event of a tied score, the movie with more reviews was ranked higher.

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21. 'Ultraman: Rising'

ultraman, in giant form, cradling a pink baby kaiju in his hands while kneeling in the sea. behind him, the moon hangs in a crescent, with stars twinkling in the background — "Ultraman: Rising." Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%

Netflix synopsis: "For decades, his dad was Ultraman, maintaining balance between humans and kaiju-kind. Now it's Kenji's turn — and it's the hardest job he's ever had."

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20. 'The Beautiful Game'

a team full of players with badges on their jackets that read "homeless world cup" standing outside. next to a man in the front is an older man, wearing glasses and a green jacket in "The beautiful game" — "The Beautiful Game." Alfredo Falvo/Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 88%

Netflix synopsis: "This heartwarming tale of football, friendship, and triumph against the odds stars Bill Nighy as the caring manager of England's Homeless World Cup team."

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19. 'The Piano Lesson'

a young girl sits at a beautiful upright piano, touching the keys. she's wearing a green dress and has her hair pulled into pigtails — Skylar Smith as Maretha in "The Piano Lesson" Brian Douglas/Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 89%

Netflix synopsis: "A fight over an heirloom piano stirs up ghosts of the past in this Denzel Washington-produced adaptation of August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play."

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18. 'Martha'

Martha Stewart — Martha Stewart gets candid in the new Netflix documentary "Martha." Courtesy of Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 89%

Netflix synopsis: "From homemaker to lawbreaker, discover the story of America's original influencer and her comeback from the scandal that almost cost her everything."

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17. 'Society of the Snow'

The survivors of Flight 571 in Netflix's "Society of the Snow." — The survivors of Flight 571 in Netflix's "Society of the Snow." Quim Vives/Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%

Netflix synopsis: "Nominated for a Golden Globe, this touching film about the 1972 airplane crash in the Andes 'hypnotizes with its spectacularity,' praises El Mundo."

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16. 'The Shadow Strays'

a young woman in all-black clothes standing in the snow, a gas mask hanging off her neck. she's holding a katana in one hand, with a building visible behind her — Hana Pitrashata Malasan as Umbra in "The Shadow Strays." Ewet/Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

Netflix synopsis: "Skilled in the art of killing, a young assassin defies her mentor to save a boy from a ruthless crime syndicate — and she'll destroy anyone in her path."

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15. 'Joy'

An image showing three medical staff in a hospital. On the left, an older man wears a blue surgical outfit with a blue hair net; he's wearing thick-rimmed glasses. In the middle, a younger woman has a white surgical outfit with a blue hairnet on and small earrings. On the right, a middle-aged man has a blue surgical outfit on and a blue hairnet, he's holding a newborn baby with dark hair in a white blanket. — Bill Nighy as Patrick Steptoe, Thomasin McKenzie as Jean Purdy, and James Norton as Robert Edwards in Netflix's "Joy." Kerry Brown/Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

Netflix synopsis: "Born in 1978, Louise Joy Brown was the world's first IVF baby. But who were the scientists that made her birth possible? This drama tells their story."

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14. 'The Kitchen'

a man and a boy, both wearing dark jackets and light wash jeans, run along a paved road. the man is looking behind him, suggesting that they're running away from something — "The Kitchen." Hugues Lawson-Body/Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

Netflix synopsis: "London, 2044. The gap between the rich and the poor is stretched to its limits. The Kitchen is one of the only social housing estates left."

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13. 'The Imaginary'

two children wearing loose t=shirts and with short hair sit on the back of a flying creature in the imaginary, grinning widely as their hair flies back — "The Imaginary." Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

Netflix synopsis: "Amanda and her imaginary friend Rudger go on thrilling make-believe adventures. but when Rudger finds himself alone, he faces a mysterious threat."

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12. 'Woman of the Hour'

woman of the hour — Tony Hale and Anna Kendrick in "Woman of the Hour." Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

Netflix synopsis: "An aspiring Hollywood star matches with a sadistic serial killer on a dating game show in Anna Kendrick's 'tremendous directorial debut' (Screen Daily)."

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11. 'Orion and the Dark'

Orion and the Dark — "Orion and the Dark." DreamWorks Animation

Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%

Netflix synopsis: "Sean Charmatz's directorial debut about a boy who befriends the Dark is a 'marvelously told tale' that 'has fun with fear' (San Francisco Chronicle)."

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10. 'Rez Ball'

a young man doges around two other basketball players as he dribbles the ball around the court. he has an intent expression on his face, and the player next to him, seen from the back, has his hair worn in a long braid. — Kauchani Bratt as Jimmy in "Rez Ball." Lewis Jacobs/Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%

Netflix synopsis: "They play fast, shoot fast and never stop. A high school basketball team defies the odds in this LeBron James-produced drama inspired by true events."

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9. 'Hit Man'

Glen Powell as Gary Johnson in "Hit Man." — Glen Powell as Gary Johnson in "Hit Man." Matt Lankes / Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%

Netflix synopsis: "A mild-mannered professor poses as a fake hit man in this comedy that's 'a blast of pure pleasure and one of the year's best films' (The Washington Post)."

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8. 'Black Barbie'

Black Barbie dolls — "Black Barbie." Courtesy of Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%

Netflix synopsis: "From Shondaland comes this 'must see' (RogerEbert.com), 'magnificent' and 'simply spectacular' (Black Girl Nerds) documentary on the first Black Barbie."

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7. 'Rebel Ridge'

Aaron Pierre standing in front of cops — Aaron Pierre in "Rebel Ridge." Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%

Netflix synopsis: "A former Marine with a mysterious background uses his unique skills to pursue justice when small-town cops seize the cash he needs for his cousin's bail."

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6. 'The Remarkable Life of Ibelin'

two video game characters from world of warcraft. on the left is a woman with brown hair and dark clothing. on the right its mats steen's character ibelin, a broad man with long golden hair wearing armor — "The Remarkable Life of Ibelin." World of Warcraft and Blizzard Entertainment/Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%

Netflix synopsis: "When the parents of a beloved World of Warcraft player announced his death, his guild members reached out ot them — and revealed his hidden life."

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5. 'The Greatest Night in Pop'

Huey Lewis, Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson in the greatest night in pop, hovering around a piece of sheet music, which jackson is holding in his hand — "The Greatest Night in Pop." Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 98%

Netflix synopsis: "Music stars met their idols, egos were tested, the clock was ticking — and history was made. A documentary on the night 'We Are the World' was recorded."

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4. 'His Three Daughters'

natasha lyonne, elizabeth olsen, and carrie coon in his three daughters. they're sitting together on a couch in a nicely decorated living room, glad in casual wear, and lyonne is curled up with her head in olsen's lap — Natasha Lyonne, Elizabeth Olsen, and Carrie Coon in "His Three Daughters." Sam Levy/Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 98%

Netflix synopsis: "A trio of estranged sisters reunite at their dying father's New York City apartment in this 'bitingly funny and disarmingly honest' drama (The Atlantic)."

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3. 'Will & Harper'

Will Ferrell and Harper Steele in "Will & Harper" — Will Ferrell and Harper Steele in "Will & Harper." Courtesy of Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 99%

Netflix synopsis: "When Will Ferrell's good friend Harper comes out as a trans woman, they take a road trip to bond and reintroduce Harper to the country as her true self."

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2. 'Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhaka Sherpa'

Two women in mountain queen, dressing in traditional brightly colored garmens including a purple shirt with blue sleeves and orange cuffs and collar, and a striped skirt that ties around the waist — "Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa." Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%

Netflix synopsis: "Bone-chilling winds. Dwindling oxygen. Avalanches. Lhakpa Sherpa makes a perilous, record-breaking summit of Mount Everest in this gripping documentary."

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1. 'Daughters'

two girls wearing white stand closely together. the girl in front wear her hair straight, and the girl in the back has her hair in braids and is smiling — "Daughters." Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%

Netflix synopsis: 'This Sundance prize-winning documentary about a group of girls reuniting with their dads is 'an admirable, ennobling picture,' says Vulture."

Movies Netflix Martha Stewart

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